I guess you could say that death is one of the most democratic experiences in life. Against our best efforts it’s a passage that we all participate in it. We would prefer to think that it only happens to other people. Collectively we hate the idea of growing old, and as a society we fight the onslaught of aging and death. The Bible teaches that death is in fact the great enemy of humanity, but it also teaches that this enemy will ultimately be destroyed forever; in fact it has already been defeated on a cross nearly 2000 years ago in resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of the victory Christ gained, death now brings permanent freedom from the struggles of this world rather than a sentence of doom. John records just saying that “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
However living with joy and hope in the world of death and pain requires an ability to live in tension. The victory has been surely won, but we have not yet experienced it fully. We can’t just deny the suffering and pretend like all is peachy, and yet we can’t add a silver lining to every dark cloud. That would be false living. As believers, we must place our hope in a faithful God who says there is not only an end to, but a divine purpose for our life if we are obedient to him. It’s an “already but nor yet” kind of situation. Resurrection Sunday reminds us of this hope, truth, and conviction.
Jason
